F-16 Fighting Falcon News

Greek F-16 crashes during take-off at Albacete

January 26, 2015 (by Asif Shamim) - A Greek F-16D exploded at Spain's Los Llanos Air Base in Albacete on Monday afternoon with emergency services saying two aircrew had died in the accident and nine on the ground.

Photo of HAF F-16D block 50 #084 from 341 Mira which crashed into the flightline at Los Llanos AB on January 26th, 2015 with the loss of several lives. [EdA photo]

The jet (#93-1084) was taking part in the NATO Tactical Leadership Program (TLP) training exercises and is reported to have crashed into parked planes, with both aircrew killed. The accident happened at about 15:30h local time, according to a local TV channel.

Nine French military personnel were also killed and thirteen others were injured. Reports suggest that many of the injured are Italians. Personnel from the US, Denmark, Germany, Belgium and the UK are also said to be stationed at the base.

Media sources indicate the F-16 had failed to gather sufficient power before taking off although it is difficult to imagine how the accident occurred because the runway is about 1,000 ft (305 m) away from where the crash apparently took place.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called the crash "a tragedy that affects the whole NATO family."

The TLP is not part of the NATO structure but is an organization formed in 1978 under an agreement between 10 NATO nations whose aim is to advance their tactical capabilities and produce tactics, techniques and procedures that improve multinational tactical air operations.